NORFOLK, Va. -- The ODU Monarchs played beat the bad weather again Thursday as full pads were moved to the morning practice and the team going through a walk-through in the afternoon.

The morning session of Thursday's two-a-day was spent on situational football, namely the four minute drill. During the four minute drill the offense is ahead in the game and has to run the clock out to preserve the victory. Meanwhile the defense's goal was to stop the offense and force a punt to preserve as much time as possible.

"That's a situation we've run into before at the end of a game," noted head Coach Bobby Wilder citing the Jacksonville and Monmouth games as examples. "We had a positive one at Jacksonville and then we had a negative one against Monmouth."

At Jacksonville, many will remember the thrilling victory as Dorian Jacksonville (Colonial Heights, Va.) caught a 32-yard pass with 45 seconds remaining to lift the Monarchs to a 28-27 victory. ODU still had to make seven stops during the 45 seconds remaining in that game forcing the Dolphins to kick a 52-yard field goal that sailed wide right.

Conversely the next week versus Monmouth, the Monarchs made it a three-point game with just under seven minutes left when the Hawks' Kenny Amsel fumbled a punt return and Marquis Johnson recovered at the Hawk's 15. On the next play, Desmond Williams (Windsor, N.C.) covered the distance for the touchdown putting ODU behind just 31-28. Unfortunately, Monmouth controlled the final seven minutes of the contest, keeping the Monarchs from another scoring opportunity, to hold on for the win.

"Its good for the players to learn that, understand how to react, and what you need to do," commented Wilder.

The afternoon's practice was on the lighter side, spending time on review. The offense spent lots of time on the screen game, while the defense went over blitz review.

MONARCH MOMENTS:

DVR/TIVO ALERT:
ODU has added another two television games to the schedule. In addition to the Sept. 18th game vs. William & Mary on Comcast as part of the CAA package, the Monarchs have now added Georgia State on Oct. 23 and VMI on Nov. 13 to the tv slate with those games airing on Cox and The Comcast Network (TSN).

ATTENTION ODU STUDENTS:
Ticket pick up for the Jacksonville game on Sept. 4th will be Monday, August 30th beginning at 7 am at the Ted Box Office. You will have until the end of the day on September 1st to pick up your tickets. Make sure you get yours!

BIG WINNER:
Have you checked out the promotions page yet? Lots of great contests and prizes for Monarch fans this season!